[12/17/12 - 09:54 AM]History(R) Looks at One of the Greatest Collections of Stories of All Time in... "The Bible"Mark Burnett and and Roma Downey executive produce the 10-hour, five-part docudrama, premiering Sunday, March 3 at 8:00/7:00c.

[via press release from History]

HISTORY(R) LOOKS AT ONE OF THE GREATEST COLLECTIONS OF STORIES OF ALL TIME IN...

"THE BIBLE"

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY MARK BURNETT AND ROMA DOWNEY
TO PREMIERE ON MARCH 3, 2013

SERIES TO BE NARRATED BY KEITH DAVID
WITH MUSICAL SCORE BY HANS ZIMMER

NEW YORK, December 17, 2012 - More than the greatest story ever told, it's the greatest adventure. THE BIBLE, an epic 10-hour / five-part docudrama will premiere Sunday, March 3 at 8pm ET on HISTORY.

Created and executive produced by renowned producer Mark Burnett (The Voice, Survivor, The Apprentice, Shark Tank) and Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel), the series promises to be a landmark television event, combining one of the greatest collections of stories ever assembled with live action and state-of-the-art CGI. The series will be narrated by Emmy award-winning actor/vocalist Keith David (Mr & Mrs Smith; Platoon; Crash) and will feature a musical score by the world renowned Grammy and Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer.

Leading the outstanding international cast is Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actress and series' co-executive producer Roma Downey, who plays Mother Mary. Joining her are Portuguese TV star Diogo Morgado as Jesus, as well as an array of acclaimed UK-based actors including Sean Teale (Skins), David Rintoul (The Iron Lady, My Week with Marilyn), Amber Rose Revah (The Borgias), Peter Guinness (an accomplished long time film/theatre actor), Greg Hicks (one of the UK's best-known Shakespearean actors), and Simon Kunz (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Parent Trap, Matchpoint).

From Genesis to Revelation, HISTORY will illuminate the Bible, re-telling the stories as they unfold and revealing new insights into these iconic characters in context of the Bible. The series will feature some of the most famous stories ever written from Noah's Ark and the Exodus to Daniel in the Lion's Den to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

"The Bible is a sacred text that continues to challenge and inspire," said Mark Burnett. "We've been working on this project for the past two years and are deeply humbled to be given this once in a generation opportunity to breathe new visual life into the Bible's profound stories. The Bible gives meaning and purpose to billions of people around the world, and sparks the curiosity of millions more."

"HISTORY has a legacy of delving into important subjects to which all people are connected," said Nancy Dubuc, President, Entertainment and Media for A+E Networks. "There's no question the Bible is one of the world's most significant and most popular books, which holds within it the incredible and powerful stories that truly changed the course of history and religion the world about. We are thrilled to work with Mark and Roma, who have vividly brought the Bible to life for a new generation, and we hope the series will resonate for generations to come."

In April, THE BIBLE series will arrive on Blu-ray and DVD with hours of exclusive special features and extras making it a must-own for every home.

THE BIBLE series is produced for HISTORY by Lightworkers Media and Hearst Entertainment & Syndication. Executive Producers are Mark Burnett, Roma Downey and Richard Bedser. Executive Producers for HISTORY are Dirk Hoogstra and Julian P. Hobbs.

About HISTORY(R)

HISTORY(R) is the leading destination for factual entertainment, including award-winning original series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. The network's all-original programming slate, including scripted event programming, features a roster of hits including American Pickers(R), American Restoration(TM), Ax Men(TM), Ice Road Truckers(R), Pawn Stars(R), Swamp People(R) and Top Shot(R) as well as epic mini-series and specials such as the Emmy(R) Award-winning Hatfields & McCoys, Gettysburg, Vietnam in HD, America The Story of Us, and 102 Minutes That Changed America. The HISTORY website is the leading online resource for all things history, and in 2011, the United States Library of Congress selected HISTORY's Civil War 150 site for inclusion in the historic collection of Internet materials related to the American Civil War sesquicentennial. www.history.com

About Mark Burnett

Three time Emmy Award winner Mark Burnett has produced over 1,000 hours of television programming which regularly air in over 70 countries worldwide. His current network series include "The Voice" (NBC), "Survivor" (CBS), "The Celebrity Apprentice" (NBC), "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?" (FOX), "Shark Tank" (ABC) and "Expedition Impossible" (ABC). Burnett is one of very few producers to have had a renewed series on each of the four major networks. He also has a strong presence in award show franchises, producing the annual "People's Choice Awards" and the "MTV Movie Awards" and for the first time in 2011 is producing the 63rd annual Academy of Television Arts and Sciences "Primetime Emmy Awards." In April of 2011, Burnett and media conglomerate Hearst Corporation announced their new joint media, production and events-based venture which will focus on media content, producing events around that content, and spinning off television shows and other programming based on Hearst brands. Mr. Burnett has been named one of the world's most influential people by TIME Magazine and also TV Guide's most valuable player. He has won BRANDWEEK'S Marketer of the Year Award, The Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award, the PGA Norman Lear Award and the prestigious ROSE D'OR FRAPA Format Award. Burnett was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame and was honored in 2010 with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.